Dushanbe, 10 March 2015 - The Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population, the Ombudsman’s Office, civil society organizations and three UN organisations, namely the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the first joint partnership programme to promote the rights of adults and children with disabilities in Tajikistan.
The programme on “Building and Strengthening Alliances for Inclusive Policies and Communities for Persons with Disabilities in Tajikistan 2015 - 2016”is a two-year partnership programme supported by the United Nations Partnership to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) Trust Fund.

Dushanbe, 10 March 2015 – UNDP Tajikistan in cooperation with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development office in Geneva has launched a mission on Investment Policy Review to Tajikistan, from 3 to 21 March 2015. The mission is being organized in close coordination and collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan, and other relevant state bodies.

Dushanbe, 5 March 2015. UNDP Tajikistan in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan conducted one-day workshop on “Towards the Public Expenditure Review in the Water Sector” within a joint UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative (PEI) for more than forty representatives of the respective ministries and agencies, local authorities, Water Users Associations, as well as civil society organizations and independent experts.

Dushanbe, 03 March 2015 – Today, H.E. Mr. Sirojidin Aslov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan and Mr. Alexander Zuev, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Tajikistan signed the Project Document to implement the fourth phase of ‘Support to Institutional Development of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of RT’, Project.
The total project budget is 200,000 US dollars, to be fully funded by UNDP. This two-year initiative will be implemented by MFA RT in close cooperation with UNDP. The project is in line with the national development priorities of the Government of Tajikistan and is based on achievement of previous phases.
The project aims to enhance opportunities (internships, foreign language courses, post-graduate studies in Academy of Diplomacy of MFA Russia, technical modernization of learning facilities, coaching and mentoring, education events abroad, etc) for professional development of young diplomats. The project will benefit over 70 staff of MFA annually, whose professional capacity and skills will be enhanced. They will be covered under the short- and medium-term career development programmes.

Dushanbe, 03 March 2015 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Governments of Tajikistan and Japan as well as Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed off today on a new, two and half year project that will see 160,000 people from Tajikistan and Afghanistan using the target Border Crossing Points (BCP) and cross border markets benefit from a safer, better run border.

6 agro-processing companies from Tajikistan took part in the 22nd “Prodexpo” food, beverage, and food raw material exhibition in Moscow on the 9th-13th of February. This exhibition is recognized as the largest Russian and East European trade event for food products and beverages. More than 2300 companies from 65 countries, including USA, EU, Australia, and Asian countries showcased their best products, new technologies and agricultural achievements at the fair.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tajikistan (CCI) with the support of UNDP Tajikistan’s Aid for Trade project funded by the Government of Finland sent the local companies “Eurasia”, “Zoda”, “Barakat”, “Intermyod”, “Oro Isfara”, and “Subhi Vatan”, to showcase their products at the fair. Among their high-quality, eco-friendly goods were fruits, nuts, dried fruits, honey, and fruit juice (apricot, apple, and rose hip juice).

Dushanbe, 18 February 2015. UNDP Tajikistan in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan, and Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan conducted workshop on “Strategic Environmental Assessment” within a joint UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative (PEI) to raise awareness and strengthen capacity of national stakeholders on strategic environmental assessment (SEA).

Dushanbe, February 18, 2015. On the 17th February in Dushanbe, at the conference hall of the hotel "Sheraton" was held a round table devoted to "Water and Sustainable Development". The main purpose of the round table was to discuss global and national perspectives on sustainable development of water and present achievements of Water Users Association "Ob-Umed" (Water is Hope) from Jamoat Porshin of Shugnan area GBAO, which won the international award "Equator prize-2014".
The program “Equator Initiative” is a partnership program of the UN, governmental, non-governmental, civic and business organizations aimed at the developing local communities into support of their efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation of biodiversity in the world. The award was presented to the head of the organization Mr. Bahtul Mamadgoziev on 22nd September 2014 during the UN Climate Summit in New York.
It should be noted that Water Users Association has been declared among the twenty-five winners of non-governmental organizations from all over the world, each of which represented the outstanding achievements in promotion of solutions in the field of sustainable development for people, nature conservation and sustainable communities.
The initiative of this association is one of the best examples of local communities in the world and the prize for the local organization is a big recognition. WUA "Ob-Umed" (Water is Hope) based on traditional rights established appropriate water distribution system, which helps fairly distribute water and supports local people in municipal services. On the basis of traditional methods of water management, new experience and knowledge WUA "Ob-Umed" (Water is Hope) created a society of water users with certain rights, duties and functions for managing water in the villages. These keepers (Mirobs) ensure the equitable distribution of water resources between villages. Also, regular group meetings, trainings and implementation of local infrastructure projects helped the association to strengthen its position in the society.
A special advisory committee recognized activity of WUA “Ob-Umed” (Water is Hope) as one of the best practices in local governance and decision-making in the community level with more than 5,000 active members of the community.

17 February 2015 – The Executive Bodies of State Power of Shurobod, Qubodiyon and Qumsangir districts of Khatlon Region held public hearings with a wide participation of the local population, private sector, civil society organizations, and the Government, including representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, local authorities, and other stakeholders. This event was held with support of UNDP Communities Programme within the framework of its Project for Livelihood Improvement in Tajik-Afghan Cross-border Areas (LITACA).

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan – successful past cooperation and future increase of the UN programmes in Tajikistan were among the matters discussed during the UNCT Tajikistan’s meeting with Tajik President on review of joint priorities for new development strategies.

Shuroobod District, Khatlon Province, Tajikistan, 30-31 January, 2015
UNDP Disaster Risk Management Programme provided assistance to the
population of Sarichashma Jamoat of Shuroobod District, who suffered from
heavy rainfalls which caused the floods and landslide in April and May 2014.

27-28 January 2015, Dushanbe and Khujand cities. More than 84 entrepreneurs of Tajikistan had an opportunity to get acquainted with the principles and features of doing business with their Turkish counterparts in special information sessions organized by the Trade Promotion Center of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tajikistan with the support of the UNDP Aid for Trade project (AFT) and the Turkish Embassy to Tajikistan. The information sessions were held in Dushanbe for the entrepreneurs from Dushanbe, Khatlon region and Districts of Republican Subordinate, and in Khujand city for the entrepreneurs of Sughd region.

23 December 2014, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
A meeting of the National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction of Tajikistan was held in the business center “Dushanbe Plaza” on 23 December 2014 with the support of United Nations Development Programme in Tajikistan. The meeting was conducted under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Murodali Alimardon. Those attending the meeting included members of the National Platform from 17 ministries and state agencies, and REACT partners including the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan, United Nations Development Programme, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, World Food Programme, United Nations Children's Fund, International Federation of Red Crescent Society, ACTED, HELVETAS, OXFAM, FOCUS, Welthungerhilfe, Save the Children, Caritas Switzerland and Mercy Corps.

Dushanbe, Tajikistan December 18, 2014. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) of the Republic of Tajikistan has organized the 3d Rule of Law Policy Dialogue meeting. The agenda of the meeting proposed to discuss the status and content of Judicial and Legal Reform Programme in Tajikistan for 2015 – 2017, introduce participants with the Cost Benefit Analyses prepared by UNDP for cost planning of State Guaranteed Free Legal Aid which is planned to be piloted in 2015 and listen to the plans of MoJ on further vision and plans to reform the system of civil status registration.

1 December 2014, UN Joint Advocacy Project on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF), in cooperation with WHO in Tajikistan and Committee on Youth, Sports and Tourism of Sino district celebrated the World AIDS Day 2014 under the slogan "Close the gap this World AIDS Day”.
World AIDS Day 2014 is an opportunity to harness the power of social change to put people first and close the gap. Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 is possible, but only by closing the gap between people who have access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services and people who are being left behind.

Kulob, 26 November 2014 – In the conference hall of the Hukumat of Kulob city took place the Opening Ceremony of the project “Tajikistan Water Supply and Sanitation” (TajWSS Phase II), financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), with participation of local authorities of Kulob city, affiliated organizations of concerned ministries and agencies, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Oxfam Great Britain (Oxfam) in Tajikistan.
The objectives of the opening ceremony were to provide a framework of cooperation and facilitate collaboration between the Local Executive Branch of State Power of Kulob city and UNDP towards improving access to drinking water supply and sanitation in Jamoats of Kulob city. In particular, participants of the event got acquainted with the goals and objectives of the project TajWSS Phase II, mechanisms of implementation for the Trust Fund designed for drinking water supply and sanitation projects, as well as with the current state of drinking water supply and sanitation sector.

20 Officers of the Afghan Border Police are receiving advanced instruction in All-terrain vehicle maintenance and operation techniques in Dushanbe. Organised by EU-BOMNAF the training is being delivered by Peter Southern and David Evans, two Specialists from Britain, supported by Juraijon, a trained mechanic from Tajikistan.

26 November 2014 – Kurgan-Tube, Tajikistan. The Deputy Governor of Khatlon Region Mr. Radjabali Radjabov organized a half-day presentation on “One Village – One Product” initiative for eight Mayors of Khatlon districts and representatives of business associations, regional consultative council and private sector in Administration office of Khatlon Oblast.

Ankara, Turkey – 20 November 2014 – The Ministry of Economy of Turkey and Turkish Patent Institute hosted Tajik high-level delegates representing Presidential Executive Office and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade on a two-day study tour to Turkey, to learn the experience of Turkey on issues related to World Trade Organization.